Site menu:

NAGPUR: The four hardcore naxals, who were arrested at Deekshabhoomi, got some respite on Sunday after they were transferred to magisterial custody from police custody.

The court also allowed police to take Murli alias Ashok Satyam Reddy and Arun Thomas Ferreira for narco analysis test to be held in Mumbai on Monday.

The TOI first reported on May 15 that the police plan to take Murli and Ferreira, who are booked under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), to Mumbai for a narco analysis. Apparently, the naxals were not cooperating with the investigators and hiding vital information regarding naxalites movements and their purpose of assembling in Nagpur. Both the accused would also be subjected to brain mapping and lie detector tests.

The application was filed by assistant police commissioner at Sitabuldi division D D Gawande, who is investigation officer in the naxal case. The Sunday's hearing was held in a peaceful atmosphere unlike on other days when entire district and sessions court premises remains buzzing with scores of lawyers, policemen and others.

Counsel for state government public prosecutor P K Sathianathan informed the court that they have received the letter from Mumbai's judicial assistance forensic laboratory to produce the naxal duo for narco test on Monday.

Surendra Gadling, the counsel for naxals, also pleaded before the court to transfer these four naxals to MCR as they had been under PCR for long period. He also raised apprehensions regarding health, safety and security of his clients.

Advocate Tiwari from Gondia along with advocate M G Bhangde appeared for Dhanendra Bhurle who is believed to be a self styled-journalist of a leading vernacular daily from Gondia and staunch supporter of naxal activities. Advocate Tiwariappeared on behalf of journalists from Gondia.

The judge after hearing arguments from both sides and taking views of all the four accused ordered to shift the naxals to MCR from Sunday. Naresh Bansod, president of Andha Shraddha Nirmulan Samiti in Gondia and a naxal sympathiser, was the fourth accused.

The court also allowed wives of Bhurle and Bansod, Prof Sarita Bedarkar and Kalpana Bansod, to talk to their husbands in the court premises. A similar appeal made by both these women during earlier hearing on May 16 was rejected.

Some well wishers of both Bhurle and Bansod also thronged the court. However, no one turned from both Murli and Ferreira's side.

Earlier, the police application stated narco analysis is must on naxal duo as both—Murali (divisional secretary of Maharashtra State Committee of Communist Party of India (Maoist) and Ferreira (resident of Bandra in Mumbai and believed to be a courier of Central Committee of CPI (Maoists))—are neither disclosing names of their associates nor their motive behind meeting at a religious place like Deekshabhoomi.

The four naxals were arrested by Nagpur police on May 8 when they assembled at Deekshabhoomi and seized material like pistol, two magazines, 16 rounds, naxal literature and diaries, pen-drive, two VCDs, MP3 disc and notepad.